Bin structure



Dec. 9, 1941. v M. cox 2,265,802

BIN STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 7, 1940' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hihi - INVENTOR.MERE/ COX 4 A WOP/VWS I Patented Dec. 9, 1941 UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICEBIN STRUCTURE Merrill Cox, Universityeivghts, Ohio Application February7, 1940, Serial No. 317,730

7 Claims.

This invention relates to bin structures, and more particularly tocertain improvements in gate mechanism for ore bins or similarstructures adapted to hold flowable aggregatesand provided with bottomoutlet openings and movable gates therefor.

My invention is especially adapted for use in connection with the orebins of blast furnace stock houses. These bins are usually grouped inlong rows, open at the top and provided with a series of separate bottomoutlet openings, each of which is closed by a movable gate or door. Whenhandling ore or vother materials which do not ow with entire freedom,such as moist or sticky ore, diiculty is sometimes experienced due tobridging of the material across the outlet opening. Prior to myinvention, when this occurred, the operator usually had to poke upthrough the outlet to start the ore flowing again although in some casesthe ore could be started in motion by pounding on the sides of the binwith a Sledge or other heavy instrument.

However, such operations were time consuming and not always effectiveand it is among the objects of my present invention to provide a storagebin bottom for any type of heavy material, such as coalgravel, iron oreetc., which includes means for promptly and effectively starting the owof material through the outlet when it is stopped due to bridging orclogging of the outlet opening.

Other objects of my invention are: to provide means, operable bymovement of the gate opening mechanism of ore bins or the like, forpreventing arching over of sticky ore or the like; to provide in a binstructure of the type described, means for vibrating a section of thebin wall to free and start the -material in the bin owing in case, forany reason, it ceases to ow through the open outlet; to provide anextremely simple mechanism; for loosening arched-over material at theoutlet which can be installed on present bins without seriousmodication;to provide a material loosening mechanism for bin bottoms which isrugged, easily operated, economical to install, and needs substantiallyno upkeep or maintenance.

The above and other objects of my invention will appear from thefollowing description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. l is a somewhat diagrammatic, transverse vertical cross-sectionalview of an ore bin incorporating my improved vibrating apparatus;

taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig 1, show-i ing two of the gateswhich are provided to close the bottom outlet of the bin and a part of athird; l

Fig. '3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken on line3--3 of Fig. 2, the gate being shown in closed position in full linesand in open position in dot and dash lines;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFig. 3.

Although I vhave illustrated and will describe my invention particularlyin connection with ore bins, it will be understood lthat it is equallyadapt-` able for use in connection-with bins or hoppers for containingvarious other types of materials. The ore bin illustrated in Fig. 1 isof the general type shown in Patent No. 1,338,482 which issued April 27,1920, to Robert E. Baker. In blast fur; nace stock houses these bins arearranged in long rows. Each bin'is provided with a plurality of bottomgates, andas all of these gates are the same in any given installation,it will suiice to describe only a single pair of gates and thesupporting and Operating mechanisms therefor.

In Fig. 1 the side walls of a bin are Vshown at I and-2, and one endwall is Vseen at 3. The bottom outlet openingvd extends across the binbetween the end walls and is closedlby a series of gates which aregenerally indicated in Fig. 1

.-10 at G. The side wall I of the hopper projects below the opening 4and'l serves toguide disengaged material into the car` 5fb`elow lthebin. The mechanism for .supporting and operating the gate G is supportedby Vdiaphragm platesforwebs 6 which extend perpendicularly outwardlyfrom the wall 2 and Yare secured thereto and to the beam 1. The plates 6extend across `the outlet opening 4 andare secured at their lower endsto the bottom portion of the side wall I. As is seen in Fig. 2, thesediaphragme 6 are spaced apart lengthwise of the bin `just enough Atoac-v commodate a part of gates G in side-by-side relation. K The gateshaft 8 is supported in brackets 9, I0, and II, secured to the webs 6,and preferably extends the length of the bin structure. Gate-carryinglever arms I2', I3, and I4 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 8 andcarry operating handles I5, I6, and I1.

As the gate structures are substantially alike, the partsdescribed'hereinafterv will be referred to in most instances by similarreference characters. AThe closure plates IB are curved as seen in- Fig.3 to facilitate the opening and closing of the' gates under pressure ofmaterial in the bin.'Y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation, 55 These plates are securedto the enlarged gate carrying portions I9 of the arms I2, and it will beseen that, when the operator pulls downwardly on the handle I5, the gatewill rotate counterclockwise, and will open the bottom outlet,permitting the material to ow out of the hopper into the car 5. As soonas enough material has been deposited in the car, the gate is closed,and, during normal operation, the only movement of the gate structure isfrom the full line closed position shown in Fig. 3 into the dot and dashline open position and back again to the closed or full line position.

However, as explained above, at times the material in the hopper refusesto flow through the opening, and arches or bridges across theoutlet 4.In order to make it possible easily and `quickly to free such bridgingor arching of the material,

I provide movable members 2|lwhich1arelocated just below the bottom edgeof the side wall 2, and

which extend across between each pair of webs or diaphragms 6. Thesemembers 29 are channels which in effect form continuations ofthe sidewall 2 and define the upper boundary of the outlet opening 4. Auxiliaryangle members 2I are secured to the top edge of each channel to preventleakage of material and each channel 20 is provided with a pair oftransverse supporting ribs 22 and 23 which extend across between theanges 20a and 2Gb of the channels and are welded or otherwise suitablysecured thereto.

Supporting rods or bars 24 and 25 are mounted in brackets 26 and 2'Isecured to the anges 6. These bars are preferably made of a resilientmaterial such as spring steel and` are of such diameter that avibratable support is provided for the channel 20. They pass throughsuitable holes in the ribs 22 and 23 of the channel members 2|] and thusthese channels are supported solelyv by the bars 24 and 25 and theirpoint of support is removed materially from the end mountings of thebars in the brackets 23 and 21.

. At each end of the channels 23 actuating brackets B are secured. Theseare right and left handed'as is clearly seen in Fig. 2 and comprise topplates 30, web portions 3|, and bottom plates 32. As is seen in Fig, 3,thetop plate 30 and the bottom plate 32 are welded to the top and bottomanges respectively of the channel 29, and the web 3| is provided with adownwardly extending portion 3 3 having a projecting lug 34 securedthereto. The channels 20 and bracketsB form movable units which supportand retain material inthe bin. The gate supporting plates I9 are alsoprovided with radially inwardly projecting anges or lugs 35, onedisposed on each side of the supporting arm I2. These lugs are so p0-sitioned that, when the gate is wide open as shown in dot anddash linesin Fig. 3, they will engage the lugs 34 on the actuating arm or bracketB. Thus these` lugs 34 act as a limiting stop for the opening limit ofthe gate.

As has been explainedabove, the brackets B are made right and lefthanded, one being secured to each end of the channelv 20. The two gateswhich make up the unit shown in Figure 2, and which are actuated byhandles I5 and i6, may be operated singly or simultaneously. The lefthand lug 35 of' the gate controlled by handle I5, will engage lug 34 onthe' left hand bracket B, While the right hand lug 35 on the gatecontrolled by handle I6 will engage lug 34 on the bracket B which issecured to the right hand end of channel 20. Thus, if only one gate isoperated only one lug 34 will be engaged by a lug 35, while if bothgates are operated together both of the lugs 34 will be struck.

If the material in the hopper bridges over the outlet opening betweenthe channel 20 and the hopper wall I, thus stopping the ow of materialfrom the hopper, it is only necessary for the operator to grasp thehandle of the gate which is open and, by moving it forcibly back andforth, cause the lug 35 to bump against the lug 34. These blows will betransmitted through the bracket structure B to the channel 20 and willcause it to move or vibrate upon its supporting rods 24 and 25. It hasbeen found in actual practice that several blows of the lug 35 againstthe lug 34 are usually sucient to jar the material loose and again startthe now through the hopper bottom.

Furthermore, if the material should bridge over between the bottom ofthe wall 2 and the wall I, it has been found that, by opening successivegates and freeing the material adjacent each gate between the channels2D and the wall I, such relatively high bridging can be causw. to bebroken down, due to the weight of the material in the hopper, after notmore than three pairs or six successive gates have been opened.

In order to locate the channel 20 and prevent undesirable lengthwisemovement thereof, I provide lugs 36 and 3'I which exten-d out from thebrackets 26 and 2'I respectively and are loosely disposed in slots 3Band 39 in the ends of the channel 20. This arrangement prevents thechannel 20 from sliding endwise on the rods 24 and 25 into engagementwith the diaphragms 6 but permits free vibratory movement of the channel2U and its supporting rods 24 and 25.

I have illustrated a specic form of resilient supporting means for thechannel 20 but it will be understood by those skilled in the art that myinvention contemplates the provision of any suitable means for sosupporting a portion of the wall of a hopper, adjacent the outlet ofsuch hopper, that this wall portion can be given a degree of movementsuflicient to jar and dislodge material which may be bridged across theoutlet of the hopper.

Furthermore, although I have described the illustrated embodiment of myinvention in considerable detail, it will be understood that variousmodifications will be made in the particular form of apparatus employed.I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the exact details hereinshown and described but claim as my invention all embodiments thereofcoming within the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a structure of the type described, bin defining walls having amaterial outlet opening, a movable gate for said outlet opening, amember forming a part of the bin walls and supported formovementrelative to said bin walls, normally spaced apart projections onsaid member and gate, and means for moving the gate beyond its normalopen position and thereupon bringing said gate -projection intoimpacting contact with said wall projection.

2. In a hopper of the type described having a bottom outlet opening, awall section adja-cent said bottom outlet opening, means for resilientlysupporting said wall section, a gate for said bottom outlet opening, astop member for limiting the movement of said` gate in openingdirection, said stop member being connected to said ,wall section, aco-acting stop member movable with saidgate and disposed to enga-ge saidrst named Stop member whereby movementl will be imparted to said wallsection when said stop members are caused forceably to engage.

3. In a structure of the type described, bin defining Walls having abottom outlet, a gate mechanism supported for movement into and out ofclosed position relative to said outlet, a movable member forming partof the bin walls, and resilient means for supporting said movable memberadjacent said outlet, said movable member having a lug disposed in thepath of said gate mechanism whereby when said gate mechanism is moved tofull open position a portion thereof will strike said lug and move saidmovable member.

4. In a structure of the type described, bin defining walls having abottom outlet, a gate mechanism supported for movement into and out ofclosed position relative to `said outlet, a movable member forming partof the bin walls, and resilient means for supporting said movable memberadjacent said outlet, said movable member having a lug disposed in thepath of said gate mechanism whereby when said gate mechanism is moved tofull open position a portion thereof will strike said lug and move saidmovable member, said gate mechanism including a handle whereby said gatemay be opened and said portion thereof caused to strike a blow againstsaid lug.

5. In a hopper having walls and an elongated bottom outlet opening, amember forming a part of the walls of said hopper and extendinglongitudinally of said opening, means for supporting said member forvibratory movement relative to said walls, a plurality of independentlyoperable gates for said outlet, said member having lugs extending intothe paths of movement of said gates, said gates having co-acting lugspositioned to engage said first named lugs when said -gates 'are open,and handles for operating said gates mediate the endsof said rod, a pairof gates adapted to lclose said opening between said webs, independentmeans for operating each of said gates, and means carried by said gatesfor moving said wall forming member relative to said wails when eithergate is actuated beyond its normally open position.

7. In a hopper of the type described having a bottom outlet opening, awall section adjacent said bottom outlet opening, means for resilientlysupporting said wall section, a gate for said bottom outlet opening,means for limiting the movement of said gate in opening direction, saidmeans being connected to said wall sections, and coacting means movablewith said gate and disposed to engage said gate movement limiting meanswhereby movement will be imparted to said wall section when said gatemovement limiting means and said co-acting means are caused forceably toengage.

MERRILL COX.

